The Backgate - A Texas Prison Employee and Criminal Justice Website
Senator Whitmire suggests system wide TDCJ employee search procedure changes after Backgate submits Middleton unit concerns along with others
By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
02/04/10
The Backgate has been receiving information for months about issues from all over Texas regarding the employee search procedures that were inacted over a year ago. Not just about the procedures themselves, and how they seem to only weed out the good employees who simply forget to take a cigarette lighter out of their pocket, but how employees are treated as they await the searches. TDCJ facilities were not constructed to facilitate these areas, and most are crudely set up in unit lobbies where employees must show up to an hour early just to be searched. Unit administrators have been mandating employees to be early, and not compensating them for time spent there. An act that clearly violated TDCJ's own policies, and labor laws.
With the Middleton unit employee complaints in hand, the Backgate reached out to several state representatives in that area, and even spoke to a reporter from KTAB TV, an Abilene based television news station. That story is still being reviewed at this time by KTAB.
The Backgate contacted Senator John Whitmire's office with the information just days ago. And referenced the Middleton unit story that we posted under this story. Mr. Whitmire's office contacted the Backgate today and submitted the below letter that was also sent to other key people in the chain of command.
Kudos to Senator John Whitmire for taking action for state employees !
(Below is the letter in it's original form)
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TDCJ Middleton unit in Abilene draws fire with staff over mandatory usage of uncompensated overtime
By Tonya Peters, Backgate Website
02/02/10
UPDATE: After we posted the below story, we got dozens of other emails from all over Texas stating what this one said.
"The same thing Happens on Allred Unit. Our 13 Bldg is small and at times they only allow 2 Officers in the Building at a Time to be searched. People arrive as early as 1 Hour to avoid being late in Turn out."
-Anonymous
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What can only be seen as a slap in the face to unit employees, Middleton unit administrators are requiring that all employees report for duty thirty minutes early to go through the unit's employee search procedures. Sometimes even being held after their shift ends as well. Problem is, the employees are not being compensated for the time spent there. An act that is clearly in violation of TDCJ policy, and of the fair labor standards act.
In an emailed statement to the Backgate, a longtime Middleton unit employee stated , " When they made us stand out in the 20 degree weather for 20 minutes and screaming at us to take our stuff off that is when Officers really got upset. We are being treated worse than the inmates."
And other employees think the same way so it seems. There has been a petition of sorts circulated on the facility that contains the names of at least 80 Middleton unit staff members. The letter addresses the issues and asks for relief. Several Abilene area state representatives have already seen the petition but have yet to address it publicly. " The Backgate has requested a copy of the petition, and will assist the employees in getting these issues addressed by TDCJ administrators, or others as deemed necessary." stated Duane Stuart, the Backgate's site manager.
Why the facility administrators have not addressed the issues in-house is beyond reason. TDCJ may need to create a policy that at least gives employees 30 minutes comp time automatically on days that facilities choose to enact the search procedures. On those units where the search procedures are operational 24/7 then that also needs to be addressed by policy. With TDCJ already officially stating that they do not force employees to work mandatory overtime, which is said to be happening all over the state again, they at least need to offer comp time for prolonged search times that employees are forced to endure.
The other issue would be making your employees stand in the 20 degree weather waiting to be searched. As an agency, TDCJ wouldn't hear of doing this to the offender population. Yet we will allow our administrators to make this call ? With the agency still losing more employees then it can hire, shouldn't we be taking care of the good ones ? Lets build some lobby areas, or other heated and cooled areas to hold incoming employees and visitors on those bad weather days. It's only common sense right ?
The Middleton unit is located in Jones county and can house up to 2,128 G-1 through G-3 offenders awaiting transfer to other facilities. It employs a total of 538 employees and is located adjacent to the Robertson unit. The senior warden of the facility is Richard Thomas. More to come..
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Domestic Violence
Correctional Staff and Police Officers are not exempt
By Tracy E. Barnhart
Backgate Training Author
01/03/10
During my many years involved in law enforcement I have responded to thousands of domestic related incidents and been involved in countless family and live in partner medications. Calls of this nature are just a part of being a police officer. Even police officers or correctional officers that cannot maintain a stable home environment for themselves and respond and perform outstandingly when called upon to mediate a dispute. I have seen incidents from family arguments to an aggravated assault in which the husband struck his wife in the mouth with a hammer, resulting in permanent disfigurement to the female. I hope that the following provides information that will assist you in your life from becoming a victim of domestic violence and assists you in recognizing behaviors exhibited by batterers.
I always like to start out my articles with some facts and statistics and this article is not without some startling statistics so here we go;
FORMS OF ABUSE
Below is a list of behaviors that have been documented in people who abuse their partners and the last four signs listed are signs of individuals who batter but many people don’t even realize what abuse is or the beginning of physical abuse in a relationship. If your partner has several of the indicating behaviors (three or more) there is a strong potential for physical violence in the relationship. The more behaviors that a person has the more likely the person is a batterer. As the relationship initiates this behaviors may be more subtle but as time goes on the signals and behaviors become more prevalent and dominate and control the person.
I have spoke to hundreds of domestic violence victims as well as high school age students about violence and I often ask this question just to hear the response. “Is it ever ok to hit your partner?” The answer will stun you as it does me every time I ask it. “Well sometimes, depending on the situation.” Females will even answer this question with, “it depends on what I do.” This is why I have found that people don’t know what abuse is and don’t understand that no one ever deserves to be assaulted. Don’t fall into the thinking pattern of most victims of domestic violence do and that is, “I can change them in time, and those little quirks that he shows sometimes will go away if I love him.” No matter how much love, compassion or determination that you show your partner you will not change deep-seated behaviors and patterns of abuse that you don’t like. You either need to become a victim and accept it or get out of the relationship. Now I am not a psychologist but I have dealt with realistic on the streets experience and I have always found this to be true, “you can never change a leopards spots.”
SIGNALING BEHAVIORS
Another reason may be that women who leave their batterers are at a seventy five percent greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay. Only when we realize that our partners exhibit the early signs and behaviors of a batterer and that no person deserves to be treated with less that ultimate respect will we end this crime. Partners need to get out of abusive relationships early then inform all friends and relatives of the abuse so that the word gets out on this batterer in order to prevent the next victim. The pattern to abuse is slow moving like a train and you will either need to get off the tracks or get run over, there are no in-betweens.
The cycle of violence is always there and after each battering the abuser is always sorry, extremely nice and loving and will do things for the partner that is very romantic and kind. Often women will lead on the last violence cycle in order to get to this loving stage but the cycle will erupt again and again and that is no way to live.
There are seven steps to escaping the violence if you are involved in an abusive relationship. I hope that you will never have to employ them in your lifetime but if you do feel free to contact the National Domestic Violence hotline for further information Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 170 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
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Debra Medina Calls “Bullshit” on Perry Before Debate
DALLAS, TX, Friday, January 29, 2010 – According to Governor Rick Perry, under his leadership, Texas is the strongest state in the nation, but the devil is in the details.
In a recent interview at the Blogger’s Summit, Governor Perry said that ending the property tax in Texas was a very intriguing and positive idea. However, he fell short of embracing the end of property tax or any significant change in management of the state’s current fiscal crisis, maintaining that Texas is on the right path. “Well, I’m saying “bullshit” and here’s why,” Medina said:
Not only have we seen loss of jobs in the private sector, the most recent State Comptroller’s Fiscal Notes shows total state tax collections have fallen by over 20%, while funds from the federal government to the state government have risen nearly 34% so far this year over last year, to plug the huge hole in Governor Perry’s state budget.
Furthermore, while Texas families and businesses have been tightening their belts during that same year, and while Governor Perry is boasting about our solid economic footing, he has spent nearly $1.7 Billion in his own department[i], 13.5% more this year than last!
“A double-digit spending increase is not sound management. It feels like state theft, pure and simple. He is taking food from the mouths of Texans,” says Debra Medina. “While the Governor is living high-off-the-hog, Texas families are struggling to feed their children and pay their bills.” (End)
Contact:
Nelda Carrizales Skevington
Press Secretary
Medina For Texas Governor 2010
210-416-0418
www.medinafortexas.com
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Ben Bius at it again over air conditioning work at the TDCJ Human Resources building in Huntsville
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
01/28/10
In an update of our previously posted story about Huntsville businessman Ben Bius, there have been some new developments. Bius is seeking the Republican bid for Texas state senator for the 5th district which includes Huntsville. Bius leased TDCJ the old Wal-Mart building in Huntsville who is utilizing the building as the TDCJ human resources headquarters.
This morning an air conditioning crew, thought to be hired by TDCJ to fix the A/C unit on the buildings roof was met while on that roof by Ben Bius. Bius began screaming at the workers that they were there illegally and then proceeded to lock the workers on the roof by securing the roof top access door that let them on the roof. Sources claim that Bius then called Huntsville police to respond to the scene. Calls to the Huntsville police department seeking information on the allegation were referred to a public information officer who was not there. We are in the process of following up in this story and will update it as necessary.
Employees at the H/R headquarters have endured extreme heat and cold in the building over a period of almost a year after Bius has refused to fix the broken HVAC system there. That, according to TDCJ employees there, is just the tip of the iceberg. In our recent story posted below, Bius, who heads up B&B Properties in Huntsville, was found to be bound by contract to repair any such issues. So far he has not.
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Did a Huntsville businessman running for the district 5 state senate seat breach a TDCJ contract with Huntsville H/R building lease ?
Employee safety issues arise after employees blow the whistle
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
01/25/10
In what seems to be nothing less than a Hollywood movie script, a Texas Huntsville businessman seeking a Republican Senate seat in Walker county is in the midst of a potential lawsuit by the state for not fulfilling his part of a lease contract. Ben Bius, a longtime Huntsville realtor and businessman is listed as the leaser of the 84,000 sq. ft building located at 3009 Texas highway 30 in Huntsville. Otherwise known to Huntsville residents and state employees as the old Wal-Mart building.
The building once occupied by rows and rows of commercial goods now houses cubicles and fax machines as TDCJ human resource employees work towards the five o'clock whistle. Months back several TDCJ employees employed at the site emailed the Backgate and complained that the building was deteriorating, had no air conditioning during the summer creating a sauna where the temperature was reported at 100 degrees inside, and frequently had issues with it's restrooms, making them unsanitary. Some of those employees stated that they had even filed complaints with TDCJ about the quality of their working environment. Upon contacting TDCJ, no official grievance issues could be found relating to the building or it's state of disrepair, but TDCJ did acknowledge that there were some major issues with the building.
Open records requests filed months ago that were tied up in red tape awaiting a ruling by the Attorney Generals Office as to what the state would release, were recently allowed to be made public and this is what we noted. TDCJ and the Texas facilities commission would not release certain aspects of the request based on the possibility of a pending lawsuit against Bius to correct the issues at the location. That information is protected under the open records act. What we did find is that TDCJ is contracted with Bius to lease the building from March of 2003 to February of 2013. With the term from 2008 to 2013 costing taxpayers $54,600 per month.
The contract states that Bius is responsible for " maintaining the building in good repair " and would violate the contract under that clause if he did not. We contacted and spoke with Mr. Bius several months ago and he stated that he was doing what he could to fix the problems at the building, but stated that TDCJ has hindered him from correcting some of the issues. Although we were not invited in to see the issues first hand, we are told by employees still employed there that the issues still remain today. In reviewing information for this story, we also thought about whether a potential state senator leasing a building to a state agency would constitute a conflict of interest. We researched it and made some phone calls and could not find any ethics laws, rules or regulations that would prevent it, even though it does look a bit fishy to the general public.
TDCJ employees have been put in a position at that location where their safety and well being may be jeopardized as a result of this situation. TDCJ officials we spoke to as part of this story claim that everything in their power is being done to correct the situation at the location. From what we can prove by documentation, we have to agree at this point. Although as temperatures again rise as summer again nears, TDCJ needs to go the extra mile and ensure that temporary cooling systems are put in place for the employees employed there, and that every available action is taken to secure their employees safety.
Ben Bius seeks to represent the people of ;
Brazos,Burleson,Freestone,Grimes,Houston,Lee,Leon,Limestone,Madison,Milam,Roberson,
Trinity,Walker , and Williamson counties and will face current state Senator Steve Ogden of Bryan.
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Aryan Brotherhood of Texas still growing in numbers and in use of violence within the TDCJ
Part one
Part two
(High speed connection preferred)
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Mandatory Overtime = Sleep Deprivation
By Tracy Barnhart, Backgate Contributing Author
01/24/10
Remember that one little question on your application process that stated, “Are you able to work mandatory overtime” and you marked yes because you were excited to get into the system and started on your chosen career? Looking back do you ever wish you would have marked NO? In no other profession is there such a high turnover rate requiring so much forced or mandatory overtime on its personnel. It was not uncommon for the entire third shift officers to be mandated to stay for the entire first shift 5 days a week making for an 80 hour work week. 40 plus hours of overtime a pay period was the normal not the unusual and after a while you began to hate telephone calls after 4:00 in the morning. I always wondered what the effects of the daily stress and forced overtime did to a body.
From shift to shift the correctional officer is tasked with policing this violent institutional subculture. Being subjected to this violent subculture on a daily basis is a stressor in the career and life of a correctional officer. These stressors can cause the correctional officer to experience more health issues, have a shorter life span and on average die at an earlier age than the average worker. Stress is not only harmful to the stressed officer or correctional worker but is also difficult to the profession and to the lives of others working in the institution. Burned-out officers frequently loose interest in their jobs, become passive instead of active in carrying out post and institutional orders, and let things inmates do, go without consequence. Thus harmful incidents may occur that could have been avoided if handled properly from the beginning.
Stress is not always a direct association of the inmate population. Other byproducts of the profession can cause stress and impair functioning of the correctional officer. Shift Lag is one of these byproducts. Shift Lag is when the stress and physiological fatigue of shift work causes one to become irritable, experience impaired performance, and a feeling of being hypnotic both on the job and in personal affairs
In a study published recently in the British journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, researchers in Australia and New Zealand report that sleep deprivation can have some of the same hazardous effects as being drunk. Getting less than 6 hours a night can affect coordination, reaction time and judgment, posing “a very serious risk.” Drivers are especially vulnerable, the researchers warned. They found that people who drive after being awake for 17 to 19 hours performed worse than those with a blood alcohol level of .05 percent. That’s the legal limit for drunk driving in most western European countries, though most U.S. states set their blood alcohol limits at .1 percent and a few at .08 percent.
For correctional, in particular, current research has indicated a relationship between extended shifts and generalized poor performance. Overtime often comes at the expense of sleep. A 1992 study, conducted by the American Journal of Public Health, found that nurses in Massachusetts who worked variable schedules (including mandated overtime shifts) were twice as likely to report an accident or error and two-and-one-half times as likely to notify supervisors of near-miss accidents. With regard to healthcare professionals, sleep deprivation has been implicated in deadly medication administration errors and decision-making processes during critical patient assessments. Studies have shown that night shift workers have the highest incidence of fatigue due to sleep deprivation.
Many correctional professionals will attest that sleep deprivation from shift work may lead to occurrences that jeopardize not only themselves, but also other officers and inmates. Fatigue from long shifts can reduce attention to detail, affecting critical thinking and performance. Although sleep is not cumulative, sleep deprivation is. The more hours a person works, the longer it takes to complete a task. More mistakes are made, and alertness is markedly decreased. In addition to reduced efficiency, sleep deprivation slows down recovery processes and impairs host defenses, increasing susceptibility to infection. It influences the potential for developing other disorders as well. In particular, losing sleep heightens the risk for type II diabetes, moodiness, and obesity. All these ailments will in turn lead to more call offs and more need for mandatory overtime.
Shift working correctional officers affected by sleep deprivation experience a greater incidence of diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, and heartburn. As if this were not enough, their risk of cardiovascular disease is increased by to 50 percent. Women shift workers are more vulnerable to reproductive problems, from disrupted menstruation and difficulty conceiving, to miscarriages and premature births. For example, 55% on midnights showed “elevated waist circumference,” more than double the percentage found in the other 2 shifts. Half had sub-desirable levels of “good” cholesterol, compared to 30% on days and 44% on afternoons, and 25% had high blood pressure, compared to 15% on days and 9% on afternoons.
Getting six or fewer hours of sleep each night is just like being drunk. Consider that most the legal blood alcohol content is .08. When you’ve been up for 18 hours, studies show that you function as if your blood alcohol content were .07. After 24 hours without sleep, you’re at 0.1 the same as a drunk driver. Now picture yourself after a 16 hour mandated overtime from third shift to first. At that point, you’re fighting sleepiness, you’re more irritable, and you have increased risk of accidents both at work and while driving. That is when you see people drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages, popping out of their chairs at work more, using physical activity to keep themselves awake.
So administrators you now have to calculate more than the financial cost of forced or mandatory overtime at your facilities. What would a legal suit bring against your agency for an auto accident following an officers 16 hour shift of mandatory overtime? What about the obvious policy violations overlooked by sleepy officers on the pod? Inmates love staff shortages because they then know that there will be a new officer working their unit, who does not necessarily care what happens as long as the shift goes off without a major incident. Staff shortages and mandatory overtime may be the number one complaint in corrections. It is like a revolving door happening, the more overtime within an agency the more call offs it creates, the more staff resignations and unplanned illnesses you have.
Check out Tracy's own Backgate Training page by clicking here !
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Norovirus taking it's toll on TDCJ units statewide
By Max Rodriguez, Backgate Website
01/24/10
In a replay of years past, the norovirus, which affects the gastrointestinal tract is once again taking a huge toll on TDCJ facilities. Employees and offenders alike have been ravaged by the virus over the past few weeks. Several TDCJ facilities have reported curtailing weekend visitation, and have even tried to segregate offenders to control the spread of the virus.
TDCJ based medical staff members have even initiated a checklist to identify potential carriers of the virus before offenders are allowed to leave the unit on transfers. "The idea is to cut down on the transfer of the virus from one facility to another." said a UTMB administrator from the TDCJ hospital Galveston facility. " We are encouraging employees to follow proper hand washing techniques to help reduce the possibility of spreading it in the facility and even taking it home to loved ones." our source went on to say.
The Ombudsman Coordinator's Office has been advised that visitation has been cancelled as follows due to gastrointestinal illness:
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Take the TDCJ survey on organizational excellence
If you are a TDCJID employee, follow this link to take the University of Texas survey. Do not worry about entering the access code. Just choose your work area by using the pull down menu.
Be honest !!!
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Are fired TDCJ Estelle unit employees just scapegoats for much larger issues within the agency?
By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
01/14/10
As most TDCJ employees around the state now by know, several employees of the TDCJ Estelle unit in Huntsville were terminated in the past two weeks after they were deemed ultimately responsible for the escape of inmate Arcade Comeaux during a prison transport from that unit in December. A move that was surely made after all of the negative media attention these things tend to bring. TDCJ has long been reactive to many issues that have required such extreme action. Would a more proactive stance prevent future occurrences ?
I personally do not see how the bulk of the issues with the Comeaux fall upon the hierarchy of the Estelle unit. Sure, some staff members were negligent, and even criminal in their actions leading up to that escape. But that's not surprising. If those two wardens were negligent, then so are the highest level administrators in Huntsville. And they should be removed as well. You see, TDCJ has been on the downward spiral for years. Fueled by massive vacancies for correctional officers, TDCJ opted to hire people on as warm bodies to fill a position driven by numbers. Quality was never a priority. TDCJ filled many empty positions that way. But that theory of personnel management came with a price. That being employees that are themselves just one step from being on the other side of the TDCJ fence. Not in a gray uniform, but in white inmate digs.
Although there have been few TDCJ administrators i have ever personally sided with over the years, i can honestly say i have to side with these employees over at Estelle. I think they are merely pawns in a much bigger chess game that is operated by the Texas Governor, TBCJ board members, the state legislature and the TDCJ director. If you compared the situation with the current TDCJ to a military operation, it would be like sending a group of cub scouts to Iraq to fight the war and then firing their commander when they lose the battle. As long as the Texas Governor and his cohorts choose to take money from TDCJ rather than to supply it to them as so they can raise standards and attract decent help, the issues we currently see will continue. To the point of someone being killed i'm afraid.
As the Texas taxpayers, state employees, and other people that visit us all over the world read this editorial, stop and consider getting out and being heard on these issues. Call your local state rep. or email them with your thoughts. Texas will have an election for state reps and Governor in the coming months. Get out and be heard. It's a no win awful situation when you as a TDCJ employee have to spend more time watching your back from your coworkers then from the inmates you were hired to contain.
Go to our LIVE chat and Message Board areas to sound off.
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For immediate release to the Backgate Website and state employees:
Also see Mrs. Medina's Backgate interview posted further down this page !
01-12-10
FAIR WARNING: Governor Medina Will Secure the Texas Border
HOUSTON, TX, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Debra Medina, Republican Candidate for Governor today released her plan for securing the Texas border in a joint press conference with the U.S. Border Watch.
“Failure to enforce state and federal laws has contributed to abuse of property and humanity all along the Texas border. We can no longer turn a blind eye on the situation and will, in order to protect our citizens and their property, take matters into our own hands to insure peace and protection along the Texas border,” stated Medina.
Medina has engaged in discussions with border sheriffs and will work closely with them to complement their efforts. U.S. Border Watch has recently endorsed Debra Medina stating, “U.S. Border Watch is deeply concerned about the lack of progress being made from both Washington DC and Austin, TX in securing our borders from drug smugglers, terrorists and illegal immigrants. The two candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor who currently hold elected offices (that of Senator and Governor) have repeatedly made promises and then turned their backs on these issues or completely reversed their campaign promises. They have consistently failed to protect the rule of law and the citizens of this great state.”
“Medina knows the U.S. and Texas Constitutions and the power that lies in the rule of law. This is, after all is said and done, a rule of law issue. Debra Medina has the courage to enforce those laws that protect the people and the property of Texas from the ravages of an unsecured border.”
Recent reports by the Texas Department of Public Safety document increased efforts by drug cartels on both sides of the border to “co-opt our children to support their criminal operations.”i These reports provide even more evidence that Texas must act and must act now to protect her citizens and their children. Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety recently commented, “The concern is that the gangs are now being used by the cartels on both sides of the border for hit squads, human smuggling and counter surveillance.”ii
“Citizens have been seriously disappointed by the campaign double-speak from both Senator Hutchison and Governor Perry on this issue. We’ve heard their rhetoric. It’s time to get serious about protecting the Texas border. Debra is the only one who will take bold and decisive action to secure the Texas border,” said campaign manager Penny Freeman.
Medina’s plan to secure the border includes:
“This is a decisive plan that makes sense to the citizens of Texas—Anglo and Mexican American alike. But common sense is in short supply in Austin and Washington and our current governor and ranking senator have had long enough to enforce our current immigration laws or find new solutions,” stated Freeman. “They have been insulated from the problems facing We Texans for way too long. Debra is the only candidate who truly cares about We Texans and will act to protect Texas.” (END)
DPS Warns Parents: Mexican Cartels and Gangs Recruiting in Texas Schools. Texas Department of Public Safety Information for the News Media, Nov. 17, 2009
Trahan, Jason. “Mexican Drug Cartels Recruiting Texas Teens, State Warns” Dallas Morning News, Nov. 18, 2009
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By Michael Williams, Backgate Website
12/23/09
Recent statistics obtained under the Texas open records act show that TDCJ employee grievance actions are at a three year high, and are on tap to be even higher this year if trend continues. Employee disciplinary action, supervisor complaints and complaints about co-workers topped the list of the most popular grievance issues.
For the fiscal year of 2007, the total numbers for grievances filed were 1,030. With 561 being processed and 469 being rejected. The numbers for employee disciplinary issues were 237, 133 were complaints on supervisors, and 23 were complaints against co-workers. Of those processed at all three levels, 126 were sustained, 92 partially sustained, 269 denied, and 41 were administratively closed.
For FY 2008, there were a total of 1,022 grievances filed. Of those 589 were processed with 442 rejected. 214 were filed for employee disciplinary issues, 111 for supervisor complaints, and 32 were for co-workers. There was a mix of other issues making up the final numbers. Most of which were in regards to some form of disciplinary based issues, with some being for unfair treatment. Although the total numbers filed were 10 grievances lower then FY2007, the amount of processed and un-rejected grievances rose. Of those filed at all three levels, 149 were sustained, 92 were partially sustained, 256 were denied, and 42 were administratively closed.
FY 2009 ending in September of 2009, there were 1,155 employee grievances filed. 645 were processed while 511 were rejected. a whopping 280 were filed on disciplinary issues, 163 were for supervisor complaints, and 37 were for complaints against co-workers. Of those grievances processed at levels I,II, or III , 143 were sustained, 93 partially sustained, 258 denied, and 39 closed administratively.
And already FY 2010, (90-days so far on paper) 346 grievances have been filed, of those 203 were processed, with 137 being rejected. In viewing the numbers for the past 3-years for the same 90-day period ( Sept, Oct., Nov) the numbers for this fiscal year are already higher then the previous months listed in the last 3-year period. Making it obvious that if they stay on pace, the numbers will be remarkably higher FY2010 then any other year.
So what do all of these numbers mean you may ask ? . Low morale, favoritism, unfair disciplinary action and poor quality help can all be factors in those numbers. Does the increase in grievance actions point to more issues faced by staff, or that the agency has taken a more hard line approach to dealing with problematic staff members now that the agencies overall numbers are up ? There are many ways you can look at the issue and try to make sense of it. If you want to weigh in on the latest stats go to the Backgate Message board and give your two cents.
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By Max Rodriguez, Backgate Website
12/19/09
The Backgate recently interviewed Mrs. Medina on her thoughts for making Texas great again. She weighed in on questions submitted by the Backgate readers. Medina faces Kay Bailey Hutchison for the republican nomination for Texas governor.
Medina : Yes, although I have acknowledged problems within the criminal justice system that might warrant a moratorium on the penalty until those issues are resolved. I believe the primary responsibility of government is to insure justice. Some crimes are so heinous that the death penalty is the only just penalty.
BG: What part, if elected, will you play in Texas border security ? Of what importance do you rate it ?
Medina : I have already begun to work with local law enforcement in Texas border counties to identify solutions for insuring that all traffic across the border is thru the legal ports of entry. I believe it is proper for Texas and her citizens to pressure Washington D.C. to secure our borders as it is their constitutional duty to do so. Texas, however, can not continue to hold our breath waiting on the federal government to do its job. We must place a high priority on securing the border and dedicate the resources necessary to do so.
BG: Do you approve of, or oppose shorter prison terms for drug and non-violent crimes and why ?
Medina : I do not believe prison is an appropriate punishment for most non-violent crimes.
BG: What legislative changes do you support if elected Governor of Texas and why ?
Medina : I believe private property and gun ownership are essential elements of freedom and am currently advocating elimination of property tax in Texas. This will require legislative action. Eminent domain must be restricted to further protect private property.
BG: How would you rate Governor Rick Perry's terms of Texas governor and why ?
Medina: Less than hoped for. Debt has nearly tripled during his administration with Texas having exhausted over 85% of its constitutional debt limit ceiling. State spending has outpaced population and inflation by over 15%. Abuse and scandal have been reported within numerous state agencies. Education outcomes remain flat, drop out rates high. Illegal immigration has not been addressed and all suffer as a consequence.
BG: Texas prison employees are ranked number 46 out of the 50 states in correctional pay. Yet house more inmates than any other state in the United States. Would you be supportive of a raise for correctional officers, and assist in securing better hiring standards ?
Medina : Hiring standards certainly contribute to the quality of a department's performance and its ability to accomplish its mission. As such I would support the development of standards and selection criteria to insure employees are capable of fulfilling the role for which they are hired. While I support equitable compensation, many factors must be considered when developing compensation packages.
BG: Currently the Texas governor is responsible for appointing the members of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice members that oversee Texas prisons. Would you consider either an elective system by employees for members, or at least a system of appointment that places people of criminal justice backgrounds in those positions to assist the agency ? (currently, anyone is eligible and most have no working knowledge of a prison)
Medina : Texas has a long standing history of gubernatorial appointments to boards. In some instances, the legislature has mandated board makeup to insure representation from various segments of the society or various areas of expertise. Ultimately, an effective executive should be concerned with insuring that board members are expert at being able to provide leadership and guidance to their respective organization. We have much work to do in our society to insure that our elected officials are accountable to the people.
BG: If elected, what would be your first official project and why ?
Medina : None of us knows what crisis will face us in Jan. 2011. It is important to know that we have elected individuals who understand the proper role of government and will work to insure the protection of freedom and liberty, adhere to the constitution and uphold the rule of law.
BG: Finally, why do you want to be Governor of Texas ?
Medina : I want to fight for Texas. To lead to restore private property ownership, gun ownership, state sovereignty and a secure border...to restore freedom and prosperity to the great state of Texas and to, by example, demonstrate to our sister states the benefits of limited government and free market economies.
More interviews by the Backgate coming soon.... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
12/14/09
(UPDATE) Kinky has withdrawn from the Governor's race and is now running for Ag commissioner of Texas )
Texas humorist, songwriter, and gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman took a few minutes just days ago to speak over the phone with me about some of the major issues facing state employees and everyone else in Texas. Kinky, now running on the democratic ticket, has more of an established platform this time around, and had a a lot to say about the future of Texas.
I started out by addressing Kinky with questions about his thoughts on Texas border security, and he had this to say. " We need to stop illegal immigration and beef up security. We need to offer the folks that are already here a way to stay. Get them tax identification cards, social security cards and allow them to pay their way." Kinky also stated that he supported a measure that would punish companies that hired undocumented illegal aliens. He went on to say that legal immigration is what the country was based on, but the current system is broken.
I had interviewed Kinky in the past, and was surprised when i got the response from him that i did when i asked him his stance on the Texas death penalty. Kinky, who once agreed with the death penalty now wants it halted if elected governor of Texas. He stated that recent cases in Texas have presented doubt to whether innocent people have been put to death. He went on to state that Rick Perry has overlooked those cases, and has failed to act on facts that should have created stays of executions based on credible evidence. Kinky stated he wants a tough stance on crime, but prefers life without parole over killing innocent people.
When we asked Kinky his opinion on Texas being near 46th in correctional pay out of the 50 states he had this to say. " TDCJ Officers absolutely need a pay raise, you can't raise hiring standards without raising the pay." He went on to point out how Texas fairs among others in education spending, and other important issues. He points the finger at Governor Rick Perry for the current position we are in now as a state. He also points out we are one of the richest, but spend the least where it matters.
Lastly, i asked Kinky what he thought about the way Texas appoints its Board of Criminal Justice. It is widely know that the 9-member Board of Criminal Justice, which is charged with overseeing the TDCJ, has not even one member with a criminal justice background. Kinky stated that he felt like those appointments fall right in line with the vast majority of Perry picks. Kinky added, " It wouldn't surprise me a bit if some of those appointees are also Perry contributors." Kinky went along with the Backgate's idea of either having the employees vote board members in, or at least make sure they each have something in their background to contribute before installing them. As it stands, most are either businessmen, or attorneys. Both of which Friedman says he has little patience with.
Stay tuned for more in our series of candidate interviews. Next up. Debra Medina.
To weigh in on this interview, go to our message board with LIVE chat !
By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
02/04/10
The Backgate has been receiving information for months about issues from all over Texas regarding the employee search procedures that were inacted over a year ago. Not just about the procedures themselves, and how they seem to only weed out the good employees who simply forget to take a cigarette lighter out of their pocket, but how employees are treated as they await the searches. TDCJ facilities were not constructed to facilitate these areas, and most are crudely set up in unit lobbies where employees must show up to an hour early just to be searched. Unit administrators have been mandating employees to be early, and not compensating them for time spent there. An act that clearly violated TDCJ's own policies, and labor laws.
With the Middleton unit employee complaints in hand, the Backgate reached out to several state representatives in that area, and even spoke to a reporter from KTAB TV, an Abilene based television news station. That story is still being reviewed at this time by KTAB.
The Backgate contacted Senator John Whitmire's office with the information just days ago. And referenced the Middleton unit story that we posted under this story. Mr. Whitmire's office contacted the Backgate today and submitted the below letter that was also sent to other key people in the chain of command.
Kudos to Senator John Whitmire for taking action for state employees !
(Below is the letter in it's original form)
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Mr. Oliver J. Bell, Chair
Mr. Brad Livingston, Executive Director
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Re: Random
search procedures in TDCJ units
Dear Mr. Bell and Mr. Livingston:
I do
appreciate the briefing provided by Brad Livingston and staff on
Due
to the gravity of this issue and because it is being implemented on the
majority of TDCJ units, I would strongly encourage you to revisit this
issue. I have been advised by several
TDCJ Correction Officers as to just how ineffective the current system is and how
degrading it can be for Correction Officers due to varying attitudes of
different Captains and or Majors.
Staffing alone should not be the single criteria, in my opinion, for
selection of a random search method. I
believe effectiveness should be paramount to staffing concerns when
implementing this type of methodology.
Daily
random searches would appear to provide a more effective countermeasure and I
believe could be performed without negatively impacting staffing
assignments. I am concerned that by
conducting "random" searches five days out of a month will do little,
if anything, to prevent the introduction of contraband on these units.
I
understand the challenges and difficulties of efficiently operating the second
largest prison system in our nation, but we absolutely must respond to these
challenges with a sense of urgency and have the strength of will to overcome
and conquer the barriers in front of us.
The citizens of
Sincerely,
JOHN WHITMIRE
JW:lc
cc: Governor Rick Perry
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Speaker of the House Joe Strauss
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TDCJ Middleton unit in Abilene draws fire with staff over mandatory usage of uncompensated overtime
By Tonya Peters, Backgate Website
02/02/10
UPDATE: After we posted the below story, we got dozens of other emails from all over Texas stating what this one said.
"The same thing Happens on Allred Unit. Our 13 Bldg is small and at times they only allow 2 Officers in the Building at a Time to be searched. People arrive as early as 1 Hour to avoid being late in Turn out."
-Anonymous
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What can only be seen as a slap in the face to unit employees, Middleton unit administrators are requiring that all employees report for duty thirty minutes early to go through the unit's employee search procedures. Sometimes even being held after their shift ends as well. Problem is, the employees are not being compensated for the time spent there. An act that is clearly in violation of TDCJ policy, and of the fair labor standards act.
In an emailed statement to the Backgate, a longtime Middleton unit employee stated , " When they made us stand out in the 20 degree weather for 20 minutes and screaming at us to take our stuff off that is when Officers really got upset. We are being treated worse than the inmates."
And other employees think the same way so it seems. There has been a petition of sorts circulated on the facility that contains the names of at least 80 Middleton unit staff members. The letter addresses the issues and asks for relief. Several Abilene area state representatives have already seen the petition but have yet to address it publicly. " The Backgate has requested a copy of the petition, and will assist the employees in getting these issues addressed by TDCJ administrators, or others as deemed necessary." stated Duane Stuart, the Backgate's site manager.
Why the facility administrators have not addressed the issues in-house is beyond reason. TDCJ may need to create a policy that at least gives employees 30 minutes comp time automatically on days that facilities choose to enact the search procedures. On those units where the search procedures are operational 24/7 then that also needs to be addressed by policy. With TDCJ already officially stating that they do not force employees to work mandatory overtime, which is said to be happening all over the state again, they at least need to offer comp time for prolonged search times that employees are forced to endure.
The other issue would be making your employees stand in the 20 degree weather waiting to be searched. As an agency, TDCJ wouldn't hear of doing this to the offender population. Yet we will allow our administrators to make this call ? With the agency still losing more employees then it can hire, shouldn't we be taking care of the good ones ? Lets build some lobby areas, or other heated and cooled areas to hold incoming employees and visitors on those bad weather days. It's only common sense right ?
The Middleton unit is located in Jones county and can house up to 2,128 G-1 through G-3 offenders awaiting transfer to other facilities. It employs a total of 538 employees and is located adjacent to the Robertson unit. The senior warden of the facility is Richard Thomas. More to come..
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Domestic Violence
Correctional Staff and Police Officers are not exempt
By Tracy E. Barnhart
Backgate Training Author
01/03/10
During my many years involved in law enforcement I have responded to thousands of domestic related incidents and been involved in countless family and live in partner medications. Calls of this nature are just a part of being a police officer. Even police officers or correctional officers that cannot maintain a stable home environment for themselves and respond and perform outstandingly when called upon to mediate a dispute. I have seen incidents from family arguments to an aggravated assault in which the husband struck his wife in the mouth with a hammer, resulting in permanent disfigurement to the female. I hope that the following provides information that will assist you in your life from becoming a victim of domestic violence and assists you in recognizing behaviors exhibited by batterers.
I always like to start out my articles with some facts and statistics and this article is not without some startling statistics so here we go;
- The chances of becoming a victim of sexual assault in your lifetime are one in three for females and one in six for males.
- Before the age of eighteen one in four girls and one in seven boys will be the victim of sexual assault.
- The majority of all assaults occur in the home.
- The abuse is never the victim’s fault. Whatever you did you did not deserve to be abused, battered or sexually assaulted.
- Embarrass you with put-downs?
- Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
- Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go?
- Stop you from seeing your friends or family members?
- Take your money or Social Security check, make you ask for money or refuse to give you money?
- Make all of the decisions?
- Tell you that you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
- Prevent you from working or attending school?
- Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it?
- Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
- Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons?
- Shove you, slap you, choke you, or hit you?
- Force you to try and drop charges?
- Threaten to commit suicide?
- Threaten to kill you?
FORMS OF ABUSE
- EMOTIONAL ABUSE: This includes any action, which causes loss of self-esteem, such as name calling, swearing, criticizing, using derogatory terms to describe the person, habitual scapegoat or blaming or any other be-littling words or actions, putting her down, making her think that she is crazy.
- PHYSICAL: The inflicting of physical injury or pain upon another person. This may include burning, hitting, punching, pinching, pushing, scratching, shaking, kicking, or otherwise harming the individual. The partner may have not intended to hurt the other person but the injury was not an accident. This is not acceptable in any relationship.
- PSYCHOLOGICAL: This includes any action, which creates fear, such as isolation or threats, playing mind games. Coercion and threats such as making and / or carrying out threats to hurt the other, threatening to leave or to commit suicide, make the significant other do illegal acts.
- SEXUAL: Sexual assaults are acts of violence where sex is used as the weapon. Assaults are motivated primarily out of anger and or a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating or humiliating the victim. Victims of sexual assault are forced, coerced and or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity. Victims do not cause the assault and are not to blame. Told anti-women jokes or make demeaning remarks about women or criticized you sexually or even withhold sex and affection.
Below is a list of behaviors that have been documented in people who abuse their partners and the last four signs listed are signs of individuals who batter but many people don’t even realize what abuse is or the beginning of physical abuse in a relationship. If your partner has several of the indicating behaviors (three or more) there is a strong potential for physical violence in the relationship. The more behaviors that a person has the more likely the person is a batterer. As the relationship initiates this behaviors may be more subtle but as time goes on the signals and behaviors become more prevalent and dominate and control the person.
I have spoke to hundreds of domestic violence victims as well as high school age students about violence and I often ask this question just to hear the response. “Is it ever ok to hit your partner?” The answer will stun you as it does me every time I ask it. “Well sometimes, depending on the situation.” Females will even answer this question with, “it depends on what I do.” This is why I have found that people don’t know what abuse is and don’t understand that no one ever deserves to be assaulted. Don’t fall into the thinking pattern of most victims of domestic violence do and that is, “I can change them in time, and those little quirks that he shows sometimes will go away if I love him.” No matter how much love, compassion or determination that you show your partner you will not change deep-seated behaviors and patterns of abuse that you don’t like. You either need to become a victim and accept it or get out of the relationship. Now I am not a psychologist but I have dealt with realistic on the streets experience and I have always found this to be true, “you can never change a leopards spots.”
SIGNALING BEHAVIORS
- Jealousy: At the beginning of a relationship an abuser
will always say that jealousy is a sign of love. Jealousy has nothing
to do with love; it’s a sign of possessiveness and a lack of trust. The
batterer will always question their partner about whom they talk to,
who she spoke to today, why she was where she was at, accuse her of
flirting, or become jealous of the time they spend with family, friends
or children. As jealousy progresses the batterer may call frequently
during the day or just drop in unexspecdly. The batterer may refuse to
let the partner work or continue a career for fear that they will meet
someone else or ever exhibit strange behaviors such as checking vehicle
mileage or asking friends to watch them when outside the home.
- Controlling attitude: At first the batterer may say that this behavior is because they are concerned for their safety, and to ensure that their time is well spent, or that good decisions are made. The batterer will become angry is the partner is late coming home from an appointment. Once home the batterer will intensely question where she was, why she is so late, who she seen or spoke to. As this behavior get worse the batterer may not let the partner make personal decisions about the house, personal clothing, friends or associates or even church. The batterer may keep all the money or refuse to allow bank or checkbooks be observed or even make the partner ask permission to leave the residence. One call of domestic violence that I responded to was called by a neighbor and through investigation it was found that when the husband left for work in the morning he locked his wife in the basement until he returned home.
- Quick involvement: Many domestic violence victims dated or knew their partners for less that six months prior to getting married, engaged or started living together. The batterer comes on like a whirlwind claiming, “you’re the only person I could ever talk to,” “I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.” The batterer will pressure the partner to commit to the relationship in such a way that they will feel guilty or that she is letting him down if they want to break off the involvement.
- Unrealistic expectations: Abusive partners will expect their partners to meet or exceed all of their needs. The batterer expects them to be the perfect wife, mother, lover and friend. The batterer will say things like, “If you love me, I’m all that you need, you’re all that I need.” The partner is supposed to take care of everything for them emotionally as well as physically without flaw.
- Isolation: An abusive person tries to cut their partner off from all outside resources. If she has male friends then she is a whore, if she has female friends then she is gay, if she is close to the family then she is still attached to the apron strings. The batterer accuses people who may form a support network of causing trouble or being the reason for all their problems. The batterer may want to live in the country without a phone, that batterer may not let the partner use the car or not have a reliable vehicle to use. Or the batterer may not let the partner work, go to school or go out with friends.
- Blames others for problems: If the batterer is chronically unemployed, someone is always doing them wrong, out to get them. The batterer may make mistakes and later blame the partner for the results or for upsetting them keeping them from concentrating on work. The batterer will blame the partner or find fault in them for anything that goes wrong.
- Blames others for feelings: The batterer will blame the partner for making them angry or accuse them of hurting them by not doing what they want them to do and will use these feelings to manipulate the partner. It is harder to identify the claims, “you make me happy, and you control how I feel.”
- Hypersensitivity: An abuser is easily insulted, and may claim that their feelings are hurt when really they are mad and take the slightest setbacks personally. The batterer will rant and rave about the injustice of things that happened even things that are just a part of living, like being asked to work overtime, getting a traffic citation, paying taxes, being asked to help with chores, or that one of their behaviors are annoying.
- Cruelty to animals or children: This is a person who punishes animals brutally or is insensitive to their suffering. The batterer may expect children to be capable of doing things beyond their capability like whipping a 2 year old for wetting a diaper or the batterer may tease children until they cry. The batterer may not want the children to eat at the table or to keep them in their rooms all evening while the batterer is home.
- Playful use of force during sex: This is the kind of person who may like to throw the partner down and hold them in place during sex. The batterer may want to act out fantasies during sex where the partner is helpless. The batterer may be letting the partner know that the ides of rape is exciting. They may show little concern about whether the partner is enjoying or even wants to have sex and will use sulking or anger to manipulate them into compliance. The batterer will start to have sex with the partner while they are asleep and demand sex when the partner is tired or ill. This may also include tickling the partner into tears or to a point of pain.
- Verbal or emotional abuse: In addition to saying things that are meant to be cruel and hurtful this can be seen when the abuser degrades the partner, cursing them, playing down accomplishments. The abuser will tell the partner that they are stupid and unable to function without them. This may evolve the batterer waking up the partner to verbally abuse them or not letting them sleep. The abuser will ignore feelings, continually criticize you, humiliate you in public, and often refuse to share the money, and inform you about affairs that they imagine you were having.
- Rigid sexual roles: The abuser expects the partner to serve; the batterer may say the partner must stay at home, and that she must be appreciative, compliant and obedient in all things, even things that are criminal in nature. The abuser will see females as inferior to men and only responsible for menial tasks, stupid, and incapable to be a whole person without a relationship. After time with this behavior the partner may even grow into believing this rhetoric.
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Many partners are confused by the abusers sudden change in moods. They may think the abuser has some special mental problem because one minute the batterer is nice and the next minute they are exploding. Explosiveness and moodiness are classical signs of people who beat their partners and these behaviors are related to other behaviors like hypersensitivity.
- *** Past battering: The batterer has abused past partners but utilizes excuses like, “they made me do it.” The partner may hear people talk about past violence from past partners, family members, or friends. A batterer will beat any partner if they stick around long enough for the violence to begin; situational circumstances do not make a person resort to violence.
- *** Threats of violence: This could include any threat of physical force meant to control the partner. “I’ll slap the smile off your face; I’ll break your neck.” Most people do not threaten their mates but a batterer will try and excuse comments by saying that everyone talks like that.
- *** Breaking or striking objects: This behavior of breaking loved or treasured items is used as a punishment for acts of defiance or betrayal. This behavior is rarely designed to terrorize the partner into submission but merely intended to show the batterers power. The abuser may beat on the table with a closed fist or throw objects near the partner. Again this very remarkable behavior is not only a sign of extreme emotional immaturity but there is a danger when someone thinks that they have the right to punish or frighten the partner.
- *** Any force during an argument: Kicking, punching, slapping, hair pulling, pinching, biting, stomping, poking and spitting are all forms of physical violence. This may include holding the partner down and restraining them from leaving. The batterer may hold the partner down or against the wall and say, “you are going to listen to me.” Weapons such as, knives, guns, baseball bats, and tools are often used if not for physical violence then as intimidation tools.
Another reason may be that women who leave their batterers are at a seventy five percent greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay. Only when we realize that our partners exhibit the early signs and behaviors of a batterer and that no person deserves to be treated with less that ultimate respect will we end this crime. Partners need to get out of abusive relationships early then inform all friends and relatives of the abuse so that the word gets out on this batterer in order to prevent the next victim. The pattern to abuse is slow moving like a train and you will either need to get off the tracks or get run over, there are no in-betweens.
The cycle of violence is always there and after each battering the abuser is always sorry, extremely nice and loving and will do things for the partner that is very romantic and kind. Often women will lead on the last violence cycle in order to get to this loving stage but the cycle will erupt again and again and that is no way to live.
There are seven steps to escaping the violence if you are involved in an abusive relationship. I hope that you will never have to employ them in your lifetime but if you do feel free to contact the National Domestic Violence hotline for further information Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 170 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
- GET TO A SAFE PLACE: It is a crime to threaten to assault or to assault another person, family or household member. The domestic violence law also applies to persons whom have had children together. If you are the victim of domestic violence you have the right to protect yourself and to expect help from others. Don’t stay in the home! Doing nothing solves nothing. Get out of the residence and get to a friends house, relatives or neighbor. Call the police, sheriff, state patrol or domestic violence agency immediately. There are temporary shelters available for your and your children. The important thing is to get to a safe place as soon as possible.
- CALL THE POLICE: If you are involved in an assault relationship you cannot, and will not control the situation or can you change the cycle of violence. Therefore it is important to report any assault or battery to the police or sheriff department by calling 9-1-1 immediately. Officers will arrest the aggressor if there are signs of violence or if the officers can establish probable cause to believe that violence occurred. The sooner that you report the crime the better because by allowing others to get involved you assist yourself as well as the batterer.
- FOLLOW THROUGH: Get the name and phone number of the investigating officer involved in your case. If there is enough evidence to establish the crime the officers will arrest the assailant and remove them from the residence. The assailant will be incarcerated until an arraignment in court is conducted and a judge will determine the bail, if any, as well as any release instructions prior to the release from custody. This will give both you and your aggressor time to assess your situation and give you time to speak to counselors about the situation. If the assailant if released the court will notify you of the release as well as any court release instructions. It is common for the victim at this time to fear reprisal from the aggressor. Remember, you are the primary witness in this crime and tampering with the case by making contact with you is a crime within itself. If you are contacted either directly or indirectly by anyone regarding the case then contact the police immediately and demand action be taken.
- DON’T BELIEVE…”IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN”: Often the batterer will be unable to admit that they have a problem or attempt to justify the action on you or another factor or place the blame elsewhere. Counseling is only helpful if both partners want the help and are motivated to work together to make change. At this time the batterer will be in the loving stage and will become extremely apologetic and often try and talk you into dropping the charges because, “it will never happen again.” There is only one person a fault and that is the batterer himself or herself and though some people can change this type of behavior requires long-term counseling. The prosecutor will not allow you to drop the charges for this very reason and if you become non-helpful in the case the state will assume the charges on your behalf.
- CONSIDER YOUR FUTURE SAFETY: If the batterer refuses to seek help it is unlikely that the abusive relationship will ever end. Statistics show that the beatings will become more and more severe as time goes on so protect yourself. Remember your love and support will never change their aggressive behavior or the cycle of violence and there will be a next time.
- LOOK FOR HELP: You are not alone. There are many places where a battered person can seek assistance. The department of social services can give you financial assistance to persons with minor children who cannot support themselves. To qualify for this assistance you must keep a separate residence from the batterer. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help there are many agencies out there that want to help you, you only need to ask.
- PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE: Even if you have never worked before, you can become self-supporting. Contact the employment services in your area. Go to the library and check out the local as well as the surrounding areas newspapers and seek the classifieds. Community education classes are open to those who would like to complete their high school education or want to learn new job related skills. Assistance with registration, academic counseling, support groups, and childcare are also available for persons returning to school to further their educ
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Debra Medina Calls “Bullshit” on Perry Before Debate
DALLAS, TX, Friday, January 29, 2010 – According to Governor Rick Perry, under his leadership, Texas is the strongest state in the nation, but the devil is in the details.
In a recent interview at the Blogger’s Summit, Governor Perry said that ending the property tax in Texas was a very intriguing and positive idea. However, he fell short of embracing the end of property tax or any significant change in management of the state’s current fiscal crisis, maintaining that Texas is on the right path. “Well, I’m saying “bullshit” and here’s why,” Medina said:
Not only have we seen loss of jobs in the private sector, the most recent State Comptroller’s Fiscal Notes shows total state tax collections have fallen by over 20%, while funds from the federal government to the state government have risen nearly 34% so far this year over last year, to plug the huge hole in Governor Perry’s state budget.
Furthermore, while Texas families and businesses have been tightening their belts during that same year, and while Governor Perry is boasting about our solid economic footing, he has spent nearly $1.7 Billion in his own department[i], 13.5% more this year than last!
“A double-digit spending increase is not sound management. It feels like state theft, pure and simple. He is taking food from the mouths of Texans,” says Debra Medina. “While the Governor is living high-off-the-hog, Texas families are struggling to feed their children and pay their bills.” (End)
Contact:
Nelda Carrizales Skevington
Press Secretary
Medina For Texas Governor 2010
210-416-0418
www.medinafortexas.com
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Ben Bius at it again over air conditioning work at the TDCJ Human Resources building in Huntsville
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
01/28/10
In an update of our previously posted story about Huntsville businessman Ben Bius, there have been some new developments. Bius is seeking the Republican bid for Texas state senator for the 5th district which includes Huntsville. Bius leased TDCJ the old Wal-Mart building in Huntsville who is utilizing the building as the TDCJ human resources headquarters.
This morning an air conditioning crew, thought to be hired by TDCJ to fix the A/C unit on the buildings roof was met while on that roof by Ben Bius. Bius began screaming at the workers that they were there illegally and then proceeded to lock the workers on the roof by securing the roof top access door that let them on the roof. Sources claim that Bius then called Huntsville police to respond to the scene. Calls to the Huntsville police department seeking information on the allegation were referred to a public information officer who was not there. We are in the process of following up in this story and will update it as necessary.
Employees at the H/R headquarters have endured extreme heat and cold in the building over a period of almost a year after Bius has refused to fix the broken HVAC system there. That, according to TDCJ employees there, is just the tip of the iceberg. In our recent story posted below, Bius, who heads up B&B Properties in Huntsville, was found to be bound by contract to repair any such issues. So far he has not.
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Did a Huntsville businessman running for the district 5 state senate seat breach a TDCJ contract with Huntsville H/R building lease ?
Employee safety issues arise after employees blow the whistle
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
01/25/10
In what seems to be nothing less than a Hollywood movie script, a Texas Huntsville businessman seeking a Republican Senate seat in Walker county is in the midst of a potential lawsuit by the state for not fulfilling his part of a lease contract. Ben Bius, a longtime Huntsville realtor and businessman is listed as the leaser of the 84,000 sq. ft building located at 3009 Texas highway 30 in Huntsville. Otherwise known to Huntsville residents and state employees as the old Wal-Mart building.
The building once occupied by rows and rows of commercial goods now houses cubicles and fax machines as TDCJ human resource employees work towards the five o'clock whistle. Months back several TDCJ employees employed at the site emailed the Backgate and complained that the building was deteriorating, had no air conditioning during the summer creating a sauna where the temperature was reported at 100 degrees inside, and frequently had issues with it's restrooms, making them unsanitary. Some of those employees stated that they had even filed complaints with TDCJ about the quality of their working environment. Upon contacting TDCJ, no official grievance issues could be found relating to the building or it's state of disrepair, but TDCJ did acknowledge that there were some major issues with the building.
Open records requests filed months ago that were tied up in red tape awaiting a ruling by the Attorney Generals Office as to what the state would release, were recently allowed to be made public and this is what we noted. TDCJ and the Texas facilities commission would not release certain aspects of the request based on the possibility of a pending lawsuit against Bius to correct the issues at the location. That information is protected under the open records act. What we did find is that TDCJ is contracted with Bius to lease the building from March of 2003 to February of 2013. With the term from 2008 to 2013 costing taxpayers $54,600 per month.
The contract states that Bius is responsible for " maintaining the building in good repair " and would violate the contract under that clause if he did not. We contacted and spoke with Mr. Bius several months ago and he stated that he was doing what he could to fix the problems at the building, but stated that TDCJ has hindered him from correcting some of the issues. Although we were not invited in to see the issues first hand, we are told by employees still employed there that the issues still remain today. In reviewing information for this story, we also thought about whether a potential state senator leasing a building to a state agency would constitute a conflict of interest. We researched it and made some phone calls and could not find any ethics laws, rules or regulations that would prevent it, even though it does look a bit fishy to the general public.
TDCJ employees have been put in a position at that location where their safety and well being may be jeopardized as a result of this situation. TDCJ officials we spoke to as part of this story claim that everything in their power is being done to correct the situation at the location. From what we can prove by documentation, we have to agree at this point. Although as temperatures again rise as summer again nears, TDCJ needs to go the extra mile and ensure that temporary cooling systems are put in place for the employees employed there, and that every available action is taken to secure their employees safety.
Ben Bius seeks to represent the people of ;
Brazos,Burleson,Freestone,Grimes,Houston,Lee,Leon,Limestone,Madison,Milam,Roberson,
Trinity,Walker , and Williamson counties and will face current state Senator Steve Ogden of Bryan.
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Aryan Brotherhood of Texas still growing in numbers and in use of violence within the TDCJ
Part one
Part two
(High speed connection preferred)
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Mandatory Overtime = Sleep Deprivation
By Tracy Barnhart, Backgate Contributing Author
01/24/10
Remember that one little question on your application process that stated, “Are you able to work mandatory overtime” and you marked yes because you were excited to get into the system and started on your chosen career? Looking back do you ever wish you would have marked NO? In no other profession is there such a high turnover rate requiring so much forced or mandatory overtime on its personnel. It was not uncommon for the entire third shift officers to be mandated to stay for the entire first shift 5 days a week making for an 80 hour work week. 40 plus hours of overtime a pay period was the normal not the unusual and after a while you began to hate telephone calls after 4:00 in the morning. I always wondered what the effects of the daily stress and forced overtime did to a body.
From shift to shift the correctional officer is tasked with policing this violent institutional subculture. Being subjected to this violent subculture on a daily basis is a stressor in the career and life of a correctional officer. These stressors can cause the correctional officer to experience more health issues, have a shorter life span and on average die at an earlier age than the average worker. Stress is not only harmful to the stressed officer or correctional worker but is also difficult to the profession and to the lives of others working in the institution. Burned-out officers frequently loose interest in their jobs, become passive instead of active in carrying out post and institutional orders, and let things inmates do, go without consequence. Thus harmful incidents may occur that could have been avoided if handled properly from the beginning.
Stress is not always a direct association of the inmate population. Other byproducts of the profession can cause stress and impair functioning of the correctional officer. Shift Lag is one of these byproducts. Shift Lag is when the stress and physiological fatigue of shift work causes one to become irritable, experience impaired performance, and a feeling of being hypnotic both on the job and in personal affairs
In a study published recently in the British journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, researchers in Australia and New Zealand report that sleep deprivation can have some of the same hazardous effects as being drunk. Getting less than 6 hours a night can affect coordination, reaction time and judgment, posing “a very serious risk.” Drivers are especially vulnerable, the researchers warned. They found that people who drive after being awake for 17 to 19 hours performed worse than those with a blood alcohol level of .05 percent. That’s the legal limit for drunk driving in most western European countries, though most U.S. states set their blood alcohol limits at .1 percent and a few at .08 percent.
For correctional, in particular, current research has indicated a relationship between extended shifts and generalized poor performance. Overtime often comes at the expense of sleep. A 1992 study, conducted by the American Journal of Public Health, found that nurses in Massachusetts who worked variable schedules (including mandated overtime shifts) were twice as likely to report an accident or error and two-and-one-half times as likely to notify supervisors of near-miss accidents. With regard to healthcare professionals, sleep deprivation has been implicated in deadly medication administration errors and decision-making processes during critical patient assessments. Studies have shown that night shift workers have the highest incidence of fatigue due to sleep deprivation.
Many correctional professionals will attest that sleep deprivation from shift work may lead to occurrences that jeopardize not only themselves, but also other officers and inmates. Fatigue from long shifts can reduce attention to detail, affecting critical thinking and performance. Although sleep is not cumulative, sleep deprivation is. The more hours a person works, the longer it takes to complete a task. More mistakes are made, and alertness is markedly decreased. In addition to reduced efficiency, sleep deprivation slows down recovery processes and impairs host defenses, increasing susceptibility to infection. It influences the potential for developing other disorders as well. In particular, losing sleep heightens the risk for type II diabetes, moodiness, and obesity. All these ailments will in turn lead to more call offs and more need for mandatory overtime.
Shift working correctional officers affected by sleep deprivation experience a greater incidence of diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, and heartburn. As if this were not enough, their risk of cardiovascular disease is increased by to 50 percent. Women shift workers are more vulnerable to reproductive problems, from disrupted menstruation and difficulty conceiving, to miscarriages and premature births. For example, 55% on midnights showed “elevated waist circumference,” more than double the percentage found in the other 2 shifts. Half had sub-desirable levels of “good” cholesterol, compared to 30% on days and 44% on afternoons, and 25% had high blood pressure, compared to 15% on days and 9% on afternoons.
Getting six or fewer hours of sleep each night is just like being drunk. Consider that most the legal blood alcohol content is .08. When you’ve been up for 18 hours, studies show that you function as if your blood alcohol content were .07. After 24 hours without sleep, you’re at 0.1 the same as a drunk driver. Now picture yourself after a 16 hour mandated overtime from third shift to first. At that point, you’re fighting sleepiness, you’re more irritable, and you have increased risk of accidents both at work and while driving. That is when you see people drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages, popping out of their chairs at work more, using physical activity to keep themselves awake.
So administrators you now have to calculate more than the financial cost of forced or mandatory overtime at your facilities. What would a legal suit bring against your agency for an auto accident following an officers 16 hour shift of mandatory overtime? What about the obvious policy violations overlooked by sleepy officers on the pod? Inmates love staff shortages because they then know that there will be a new officer working their unit, who does not necessarily care what happens as long as the shift goes off without a major incident. Staff shortages and mandatory overtime may be the number one complaint in corrections. It is like a revolving door happening, the more overtime within an agency the more call offs it creates, the more staff resignations and unplanned illnesses you have.
Check out Tracy's own Backgate Training page by clicking here !
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Norovirus taking it's toll on TDCJ units statewide
By Max Rodriguez, Backgate Website
01/24/10
In a replay of years past, the norovirus, which affects the gastrointestinal tract is once again taking a huge toll on TDCJ facilities. Employees and offenders alike have been ravaged by the virus over the past few weeks. Several TDCJ facilities have reported curtailing weekend visitation, and have even tried to segregate offenders to control the spread of the virus.
TDCJ based medical staff members have even initiated a checklist to identify potential carriers of the virus before offenders are allowed to leave the unit on transfers. "The idea is to cut down on the transfer of the virus from one facility to another." said a UTMB administrator from the TDCJ hospital Galveston facility. " We are encouraging employees to follow proper hand washing techniques to help reduce the possibility of spreading it in the facility and even taking it home to loved ones." our source went on to say.
What are the symptoms of illness caused by noroviruses?
The symptoms
of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some
stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever,
chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The
illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick.
In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for
about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than
adults.
How
serious is norovirus disease?
People may feel very sick and vomit many times a day, but most people
get better within 1 or 2 days, and they have no long-term health
effects related to their illness. However, sometimes people are unable
to drink enough liquids to replace the liquids they lost because of
vomiting and diarrhea. These persons can become dehydrated (loose too
much water from their body) and may need special medical attention.
During norovirus infection, this problem with dehydration is usually
only seen among the very young, the elderly, and people with other
illness. (For more information see Is there a treatment for norovirus infection?)
How
do people become infected with noroviruses?
Noroviruses
are found in the stool or vomit of infected people. People can become
infected with the virus in several ways, including:
- eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus;
- touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth;
- having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).
The Ombudsman Coordinator's Office has been advised that visitation has been cancelled as follows due to gastrointestinal illness:
- Terrell Unit will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Huntsville Unit will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Stevenson Unit will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Estelle Unit will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Michael Unit will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Pack Unit will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Garza West Transfer Facility will not have visitation this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
- Coffield Unit will not have visitation in the following housing areas this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
Wings - A, B, C, M, R, V, Y
P5 - 1 & 2 Building
If you have questions concerning the location of an offender on the facility or to ascertain if any other areas have been affected, you may contact the Coffield Unit at 903-928-2211. - Estes Unit will not have visitation in the following housing areas this weekend, January 23rd and 24th
Pods - D, E
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Take the TDCJ survey on organizational excellence
If you are a TDCJID employee, follow this link to take the University of Texas survey. Do not worry about entering the access code. Just choose your work area by using the pull down menu.
Be honest !!!
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Are fired TDCJ Estelle unit employees just scapegoats for much larger issues within the agency?
By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
01/14/10
As most TDCJ employees around the state now by know, several employees of the TDCJ Estelle unit in Huntsville were terminated in the past two weeks after they were deemed ultimately responsible for the escape of inmate Arcade Comeaux during a prison transport from that unit in December. A move that was surely made after all of the negative media attention these things tend to bring. TDCJ has long been reactive to many issues that have required such extreme action. Would a more proactive stance prevent future occurrences ?
I personally do not see how the bulk of the issues with the Comeaux fall upon the hierarchy of the Estelle unit. Sure, some staff members were negligent, and even criminal in their actions leading up to that escape. But that's not surprising. If those two wardens were negligent, then so are the highest level administrators in Huntsville. And they should be removed as well. You see, TDCJ has been on the downward spiral for years. Fueled by massive vacancies for correctional officers, TDCJ opted to hire people on as warm bodies to fill a position driven by numbers. Quality was never a priority. TDCJ filled many empty positions that way. But that theory of personnel management came with a price. That being employees that are themselves just one step from being on the other side of the TDCJ fence. Not in a gray uniform, but in white inmate digs.
Although there have been few TDCJ administrators i have ever personally sided with over the years, i can honestly say i have to side with these employees over at Estelle. I think they are merely pawns in a much bigger chess game that is operated by the Texas Governor, TBCJ board members, the state legislature and the TDCJ director. If you compared the situation with the current TDCJ to a military operation, it would be like sending a group of cub scouts to Iraq to fight the war and then firing their commander when they lose the battle. As long as the Texas Governor and his cohorts choose to take money from TDCJ rather than to supply it to them as so they can raise standards and attract decent help, the issues we currently see will continue. To the point of someone being killed i'm afraid.
As the Texas taxpayers, state employees, and other people that visit us all over the world read this editorial, stop and consider getting out and being heard on these issues. Call your local state rep. or email them with your thoughts. Texas will have an election for state reps and Governor in the coming months. Get out and be heard. It's a no win awful situation when you as a TDCJ employee have to spend more time watching your back from your coworkers then from the inmates you were hired to contain.
Go to our LIVE chat and Message Board areas to sound off.
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Republican Gubernatorial candidate releases objectives for securing the Texas border
For immediate release to the Backgate Website and state employees:
Also see Mrs. Medina's Backgate interview posted further down this page !
01-12-10
FAIR WARNING: Governor Medina Will Secure the Texas Border
HOUSTON, TX, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Debra Medina, Republican Candidate for Governor today released her plan for securing the Texas border in a joint press conference with the U.S. Border Watch.
“Failure to enforce state and federal laws has contributed to abuse of property and humanity all along the Texas border. We can no longer turn a blind eye on the situation and will, in order to protect our citizens and their property, take matters into our own hands to insure peace and protection along the Texas border,” stated Medina.
Medina has engaged in discussions with border sheriffs and will work closely with them to complement their efforts. U.S. Border Watch has recently endorsed Debra Medina stating, “U.S. Border Watch is deeply concerned about the lack of progress being made from both Washington DC and Austin, TX in securing our borders from drug smugglers, terrorists and illegal immigrants. The two candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor who currently hold elected offices (that of Senator and Governor) have repeatedly made promises and then turned their backs on these issues or completely reversed their campaign promises. They have consistently failed to protect the rule of law and the citizens of this great state.”
“Medina knows the U.S. and Texas Constitutions and the power that lies in the rule of law. This is, after all is said and done, a rule of law issue. Debra Medina has the courage to enforce those laws that protect the people and the property of Texas from the ravages of an unsecured border.”
Recent reports by the Texas Department of Public Safety document increased efforts by drug cartels on both sides of the border to “co-opt our children to support their criminal operations.”i These reports provide even more evidence that Texas must act and must act now to protect her citizens and their children. Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety recently commented, “The concern is that the gangs are now being used by the cartels on both sides of the border for hit squads, human smuggling and counter surveillance.”ii
“Citizens have been seriously disappointed by the campaign double-speak from both Senator Hutchison and Governor Perry on this issue. We’ve heard their rhetoric. It’s time to get serious about protecting the Texas border. Debra is the only one who will take bold and decisive action to secure the Texas border,” said campaign manager Penny Freeman.
Medina’s plan to secure the border includes:
- Calling sufficient numbers of Texas National Guard and Texas State Guard members to active duty to support local law enforcement particularly along areas in between legal ports of entry to combat drug and human trafficking;
- Notifying Mexican authorities that the Texas Border will be secure and no entry will be allowed without proper documentation;
- Insuring that Texas District Attorneys and Texas Attorney General exercise full prosecutorial power and have sufficient resources to enforce human slavery and child labor laws to their fullest extent;
- Assisting local and state law enforcement in deporting individuals convicted of violating state or federal law;
- Insuring that private citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their property without fear;
- Insuring that the interests of Texans are protected by seeking legislation and enforcement actions that respect Texas sovereignty in the face of international treaties, like NAFTA, that violate Texas state sovereignty; These treaties create poverty in Mexico and Central America and benefit corporate investors. This poverty drives people to migrate north. Insuring that the interests of Texans are protected, Debra Medina will interpose, support nullification and declare unconstitutional all international treaties that violate Texas state sovereignty. We will not recognize those treaties or enforce their regulation or taxation.
- Eliminating
social incentives to illegal immigration by seeking legislation
prohibiting use of state funds for service or benefit of illegal
aliens.
“This is a decisive plan that makes sense to the citizens of Texas—Anglo and Mexican American alike. But common sense is in short supply in Austin and Washington and our current governor and ranking senator have had long enough to enforce our current immigration laws or find new solutions,” stated Freeman. “They have been insulated from the problems facing We Texans for way too long. Debra is the only candidate who truly cares about We Texans and will act to protect Texas.” (END)
DPS Warns Parents: Mexican Cartels and Gangs Recruiting in Texas Schools. Texas Department of Public Safety Information for the News Media, Nov. 17, 2009
Trahan, Jason. “Mexican Drug Cartels Recruiting Texas Teens, State Warns” Dallas Morning News, Nov. 18, 2009
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TDCJ employee grievances on the rise for third straight year
By Michael Williams, Backgate Website
12/23/09
Recent statistics obtained under the Texas open records act show that TDCJ employee grievance actions are at a three year high, and are on tap to be even higher this year if trend continues. Employee disciplinary action, supervisor complaints and complaints about co-workers topped the list of the most popular grievance issues.
For the fiscal year of 2007, the total numbers for grievances filed were 1,030. With 561 being processed and 469 being rejected. The numbers for employee disciplinary issues were 237, 133 were complaints on supervisors, and 23 were complaints against co-workers. Of those processed at all three levels, 126 were sustained, 92 partially sustained, 269 denied, and 41 were administratively closed.
For FY 2008, there were a total of 1,022 grievances filed. Of those 589 were processed with 442 rejected. 214 were filed for employee disciplinary issues, 111 for supervisor complaints, and 32 were for co-workers. There was a mix of other issues making up the final numbers. Most of which were in regards to some form of disciplinary based issues, with some being for unfair treatment. Although the total numbers filed were 10 grievances lower then FY2007, the amount of processed and un-rejected grievances rose. Of those filed at all three levels, 149 were sustained, 92 were partially sustained, 256 were denied, and 42 were administratively closed.
FY 2009 ending in September of 2009, there were 1,155 employee grievances filed. 645 were processed while 511 were rejected. a whopping 280 were filed on disciplinary issues, 163 were for supervisor complaints, and 37 were for complaints against co-workers. Of those grievances processed at levels I,II, or III , 143 were sustained, 93 partially sustained, 258 denied, and 39 closed administratively.
And already FY 2010, (90-days so far on paper) 346 grievances have been filed, of those 203 were processed, with 137 being rejected. In viewing the numbers for the past 3-years for the same 90-day period ( Sept, Oct., Nov) the numbers for this fiscal year are already higher then the previous months listed in the last 3-year period. Making it obvious that if they stay on pace, the numbers will be remarkably higher FY2010 then any other year.
So what do all of these numbers mean you may ask ? . Low morale, favoritism, unfair disciplinary action and poor quality help can all be factors in those numbers. Does the increase in grievance actions point to more issues faced by staff, or that the agency has taken a more hard line approach to dealing with problematic staff members now that the agencies overall numbers are up ? There are many ways you can look at the issue and try to make sense of it. If you want to weigh in on the latest stats go to the Backgate Message board and give your two cents.
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Republican Gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina sits down with the Backgate Website
By Max Rodriguez, Backgate Website
12/19/09
The Backgate recently interviewed Mrs. Medina on her thoughts for making Texas great again. She weighed in on questions submitted by the Backgate readers. Medina faces Kay Bailey Hutchison for the republican nomination for Texas governor.
Born in Beeville and raised on a South Texas farm, Debra Medina is a wife and mother, a registered nurse, a businesswoman, a rancher and a fighter.
Debra has always drawn strength from the courage of her convictions. She first got involved in politics in the early 1990s, when she saw that local leaders were not honoring the pro-life principles that guide her beliefs. Now chairing the Republican Party of Wharton County, she took the Republican Party of Texas to court in 2008 over violations in how the state convention was run.
Standing up to Goliaths is pretty much what Debra does.
She homeschooled both her children long before homeschooling had the kind of support and visibility it has today. She graduated from San Antonio’s Baptist Memorial Hospital System School of Nursing in 1984, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the evangelical Christian Le Tourneau University. In 2002, she founded her own business, Prudentia Inc., which specializes in improving medical billing procedures.
Through it all, Debra has waged and won battles that were not always popular – battles that often demanded uncompromising personal sacrifice. But this kind of strength is no surprise. After all, one of her ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. Another lost his life in the fall of 1842 in the Dawson Massacre near San Antonio, fighting to preserve Texas independence.
The Backgate Q & A ;
BG : Do you approve of, or oppose the Texas death penalty and why ?Medina : Yes, although I have acknowledged problems within the criminal justice system that might warrant a moratorium on the penalty until those issues are resolved. I believe the primary responsibility of government is to insure justice. Some crimes are so heinous that the death penalty is the only just penalty.
BG: What part, if elected, will you play in Texas border security ? Of what importance do you rate it ?
Medina : I have already begun to work with local law enforcement in Texas border counties to identify solutions for insuring that all traffic across the border is thru the legal ports of entry. I believe it is proper for Texas and her citizens to pressure Washington D.C. to secure our borders as it is their constitutional duty to do so. Texas, however, can not continue to hold our breath waiting on the federal government to do its job. We must place a high priority on securing the border and dedicate the resources necessary to do so.
BG: Do you approve of, or oppose shorter prison terms for drug and non-violent crimes and why ?
Medina : I do not believe prison is an appropriate punishment for most non-violent crimes.
BG: What legislative changes do you support if elected Governor of Texas and why ?
Medina : I believe private property and gun ownership are essential elements of freedom and am currently advocating elimination of property tax in Texas. This will require legislative action. Eminent domain must be restricted to further protect private property.
BG: How would you rate Governor Rick Perry's terms of Texas governor and why ?
Medina: Less than hoped for. Debt has nearly tripled during his administration with Texas having exhausted over 85% of its constitutional debt limit ceiling. State spending has outpaced population and inflation by over 15%. Abuse and scandal have been reported within numerous state agencies. Education outcomes remain flat, drop out rates high. Illegal immigration has not been addressed and all suffer as a consequence.
BG: Texas prison employees are ranked number 46 out of the 50 states in correctional pay. Yet house more inmates than any other state in the United States. Would you be supportive of a raise for correctional officers, and assist in securing better hiring standards ?
Medina : Hiring standards certainly contribute to the quality of a department's performance and its ability to accomplish its mission. As such I would support the development of standards and selection criteria to insure employees are capable of fulfilling the role for which they are hired. While I support equitable compensation, many factors must be considered when developing compensation packages.
BG: Currently the Texas governor is responsible for appointing the members of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice members that oversee Texas prisons. Would you consider either an elective system by employees for members, or at least a system of appointment that places people of criminal justice backgrounds in those positions to assist the agency ? (currently, anyone is eligible and most have no working knowledge of a prison)
Medina : Texas has a long standing history of gubernatorial appointments to boards. In some instances, the legislature has mandated board makeup to insure representation from various segments of the society or various areas of expertise. Ultimately, an effective executive should be concerned with insuring that board members are expert at being able to provide leadership and guidance to their respective organization. We have much work to do in our society to insure that our elected officials are accountable to the people.
BG: If elected, what would be your first official project and why ?
Medina : None of us knows what crisis will face us in Jan. 2011. It is important to know that we have elected individuals who understand the proper role of government and will work to insure the protection of freedom and liberty, adhere to the constitution and uphold the rule of law.
BG: Finally, why do you want to be Governor of Texas ?
Medina : I want to fight for Texas. To lead to restore private property ownership, gun ownership, state sovereignty and a secure border...to restore freedom and prosperity to the great state of Texas and to, by example, demonstrate to our sister states the benefits of limited government and free market economies.
More interviews by the Backgate coming soon.... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kinky Friedman talks about life and politics with the Backgate Website
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
12/14/09
(UPDATE) Kinky has withdrawn from the Governor's race and is now running for Ag commissioner of Texas )
Texas humorist, songwriter, and gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman took a few minutes just days ago to speak over the phone with me about some of the major issues facing state employees and everyone else in Texas. Kinky, now running on the democratic ticket, has more of an established platform this time around, and had a a lot to say about the future of Texas.
I started out by addressing Kinky with questions about his thoughts on Texas border security, and he had this to say. " We need to stop illegal immigration and beef up security. We need to offer the folks that are already here a way to stay. Get them tax identification cards, social security cards and allow them to pay their way." Kinky also stated that he supported a measure that would punish companies that hired undocumented illegal aliens. He went on to say that legal immigration is what the country was based on, but the current system is broken.
I had interviewed Kinky in the past, and was surprised when i got the response from him that i did when i asked him his stance on the Texas death penalty. Kinky, who once agreed with the death penalty now wants it halted if elected governor of Texas. He stated that recent cases in Texas have presented doubt to whether innocent people have been put to death. He went on to state that Rick Perry has overlooked those cases, and has failed to act on facts that should have created stays of executions based on credible evidence. Kinky stated he wants a tough stance on crime, but prefers life without parole over killing innocent people.
When we asked Kinky his opinion on Texas being near 46th in correctional pay out of the 50 states he had this to say. " TDCJ Officers absolutely need a pay raise, you can't raise hiring standards without raising the pay." He went on to point out how Texas fairs among others in education spending, and other important issues. He points the finger at Governor Rick Perry for the current position we are in now as a state. He also points out we are one of the richest, but spend the least where it matters.
Lastly, i asked Kinky what he thought about the way Texas appoints its Board of Criminal Justice. It is widely know that the 9-member Board of Criminal Justice, which is charged with overseeing the TDCJ, has not even one member with a criminal justice background. Kinky stated that he felt like those appointments fall right in line with the vast majority of Perry picks. Kinky added, " It wouldn't surprise me a bit if some of those appointees are also Perry contributors." Kinky went along with the Backgate's idea of either having the employees vote board members in, or at least make sure they each have something in their background to contribute before installing them. As it stands, most are either businessmen, or attorneys. Both of which Friedman says he has little patience with.
Stay tuned for more in our series of candidate interviews. Next up. Debra Medina.
To weigh in on this interview, go to our message board with LIVE chat !
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